During the 2018-2019 school year, the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation supported the “I Care and Act” programme. Within the framework of the programme, many students had the opportunity to cultivate the values of volunteering, solidarity and selfless giving through innovative experiential activities. The programme is implemented by DESMOS and Lambrakis Foundation, which has undertaken the design, development, coordination and management of the project.

“I Care and Act” was implemented in all levels of education and all types of schools across Greece and consisted of the planning and implementation of experiential learning activities by teachers and students. The programme provided teachers, students and their families with supportive educational material free of charge through the programme’s website and the activities were coordinated through training seminars and ongoing face-to-face and remote support.

One of the programme’s major characteristics is the implementation of experiential learning as an educational method. The combination of theoretical teaching and experiential learning contributes decisively to the adoption of social service and volunteering as a way of life, since students get the satisfaction and feeling of capability to influence their environment positively through the activities that they themselves plan and implement. At the same time, the programme’s collaborative nature promotes the development of productive synergies through the partnership of several institutions of civil society and teaches students the value of cooperation in practice. Overall, the programme provides the youth with appropriate stimuli and tools to become active and responsible citizens, while having the opportunity to obtain new experiences and develop new skills.

During the 2018-2019 school year, students and teachers developed volunteering and social service activities, including preparing/cooking meals and offering them to the ones in need, taking care of stray animals, visiting Care Centres for the Elderly and inspiriting the residents, cleaning beaches and groves, collaborating with refugee children and experiencing crosscultural interaction, taking initiatives to improve accessibility issues of people with mobility problems in their neighbourhood or city, creating a community library, etc..

• 172 school units of primary and secondary education in 13 regions of the country and 14,152 students participated in the programme during the 2018-2019 school year.
• 1,167 teachers and coordinators were trained as part of the programme and developed social service activities with 870 organisations and partners.

“The support of the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation has been instrumental in the success of the “I Care and Act” programme. Together, we managed to inspire 14,152 students throughout Greece this year, creating waves of positive change! The education and values that will be implanted in students today will determine the quality of the citizens that our society will consist of in the future. This is why we are dedicated in creating active and responsible citizens that care and act for the common good. We are all proud because the positive results of “I Care and Act” prove its success in affecting teachers, students and local communities in terms of changing their approach toward life, and through experiential voluntary activities it cultivates a shift toward focusing on our fellow citizens.”

Ekavi Valleras Director of Strategic Planning, DESMOS